Paper can gripper



Jan. 15, 1935. 1.1 BERKOWITZ PAPER CAN GRIPPER Filed Feb. 27, 1931 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I N V EN TOR. L EON L. BE /r0 WITZ Jan. 15, 1935. L, BERKOWITZ 1,988,107

PAPER CAN GRIPPER Filed Feb. 27, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

LEO/Y L. EERKOW/TZ MNEY.

Patented Jan. 15, 1935 UNITE srarss PAPER CAN GEIPPER Leon L. Berkowitz, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor to Morris Paper Mills, Chicago, lilL, a corporatio of Illinois Application February 27, 1931, Serial No. 518,655

'7 Claims.

My invention relates to paper can grippers, and it relates more particularly to a certain paper can gripper adapted quickly and easily to grip a paper ice cream can and facilitate its extraction from a refrigerator well and further to enable the transportation of said paper can by means of said gripper.

It is an object of my invention, to provide a paper can gripper of simple and sturdy construction that will enable the user thereof quickly and easily to grip the paper ice-cream can, extract said can from the refrigerator well, and to carry said can about by means of said gripper.

In refrigerator wells, two or more paper icecream cans are inserted one on top of another into a well, the diameter of which is but slightly greater than the diameter of the paper cans. To reach one of these paper cans by means other than theirtop is practically impossible.

It is further an object of my invention there'- fore, to provide means whereby my novel paper can gripper may be attached to the paper can solely from above and means also whereby the gripper of my invention may serve as a lifting medium for the extraction of the paper can from the well.

With the above and other objects in view, my

invention consists of a gripping means for a paper can, which includes two pairs of-jaws separated by a spacer member separating one pair of jaws from the 0ther;-the inner jaw of each pair being insertable into a paper can, and the outer jaw thereof being adapted to coact with said inner jaw to'grip the paper can wall therebetween, and a handle intermediate said two pairs of jaws and operatively connected thereto to open or close both jaws in unison by a single manual force, the manual force coincident with lifting, serving also to close the jaws so as to increase the grip thereof when the paper can is being lifted or carried.

My invention further includes means such as a toothed or wedged lower portion on the'inner jaw, to facilitate the insertion of said inner jaw into a closed and filled paper can; and means, such as a palm-rest, to facilitate the manual insertion of said inner jaw into said can. My invention also includes means to increase the grip on the paper can by crimping the wall of the same, and means also to enhance the grip of said jaws on the paper can wall by extending one jaw beneath the other so as to catch the wall beneath the crimp and tend to lift the can by means of said crimp.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention I have shown in the accompanying drawings one form thereof which is at present preferred by me, since the same has been found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which my invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and that my invention is not limited to the precise arrangernent and organization of the instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

Referring to the drawings, in which like reference characters indicate like parts,

Figure 1 represents a front elevational view, partly in section, of a paper can gripper embodying. my invention.

Figure 2 represents a view in perspective of one of the two pairs of jaws of a paper can gripper embodying my invention.

Figure 3 represents an end elevational view of an inner jaw of a paper can gripper embcdying my invention. I

Figure 4 represents a front elevational view, partly in section, of my novel paper can gripper inserted into a paper can and gripping the latter.

Figure 5 represents a vertical sectional view, greatly enlarged, of a pair of jaws of a paper can gripper embodying my invention, gripping the wall of a paper can and illustrating in detail the gripping action of the same.

Figure 6 represents a front elevational view, partly in section, of a paper can gripper of a modified construction embodying my invention.

Figure '7 represents a front elevational view of a paper can gripper of modified construction embodying my invention, in a gripping position,

said position resulting from the lifting action of the hand inserted in the handle of the same.

Figure 8 represents a view in section along line 8-8 of Figure 6.

According to my invention, the form of gripper shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, is provided with two similar pairs of jaws l0 andll, each pair of jaws consisting of an inner stationary jaw 13, anouter movable jaw 14, and a hinge 15 by means of which the outer lated to said inner jaw 13. The hinge 15 may consist of a pair of preferably integral ears or lugs 16 outwardly projecting from the stationary jaw 13 and a paircf preferably integral ears or lugs 17 inwardly projecting from the movable jaw lea-said ears 1'7 being operatively juxtaposed to said ears 16 and pivotally joined thereto by means. of the pintle 18.

The pairs of jaws l0 and 11 are, in this instance, rigidly connected and held in spaced relation by a member 29 formed integral with the inner, stationary jaws 13 of each pair of jaws.

A movable handle member 19 is generally longitudinally disposcdintermediate the two pairs ofijaws 10 and 11 and .is rigidly attached to, or preferably formed integrally with, the movable jaw ie of one of said pairs of jaws 10. Another movable handle member 21 is disposed jaw is pivotally reabove the handle member 19 and intermediate said pairs of jaws 10 and 11, and is rigidly attached to, or preferably formed integrally with, the movable jaw 14 of the pair of jaws 11. The handle 21 is suitably bent so as to slide easily over the handle member 19 as the latter is raised. Thus, as the handle member 19 is lifted, it carries with it the handle member 21 movably disposed above it. The motion of lifting the handle members 19 and 21 is about the pivot pins or pintles 18, and is transmitted directly to the movable jaws 14 formed rigidly and preferably integrally therewith, simultaneously to close the pairs of jaws 10 and 11 respectively.

Conversely, a downward motion of the handles 19 and 21 causes the pairs of jaws 10 and 11 simultaneously to open. Thus, the opening and closing of these jaws may be controlled by the raising or lowering of the handle members 19 and 21. The normal position for these jaws is the open position resultant from the lowered handle. This open position of the jaws permits the easy attachment of the gripper to the paper can without any troublesome manipulation of the handle.

An auxiliary spacer member 12 may also be provided for rigidly connecting the inner, stationary jaws 13 of each pair of jaws, to assist the member 29 in maintaining the jaws in properly spaced relation.

A bent portion 23 is provided in the handle member 19 so that the free end 24 thereof rests on the spacer or compression member 12, leaving a space 25 between said handle member 19 and said spacer 12, into which a hand of the operator may be inserted to grasp the handle members 19 and 21.

In the form of my invention herein shown, the handle members. 19 and 21 are respectively formed integrally with the movable jaws 14, and pass through respective apertures 22 in the up per portion of the stationary jaws 13.

The spacer member 29 facilitates the manual insertion of said jaws 13 into the can 20 and also serves to enable the facile extraction of said jaws from said can 20 when it is desired to disengage the gripper from the can. The auxiliary spacer 12 serves to limit the depth to which the jaws may be inserted into the can.

A toothed portion 26 is provided in the lower edge of the stationary inner jaws 13 to further facilitate the insertion of said jaws through the paper ice-cream can 20.

An outwardly facing beveled edge 30 is preferably provided on the lower end of each inner jaw 13, and a corresponding inwardly protruding bent portion 31 is preferably provided on the lower end of each outer movable jaw 14. This protruding portion 31 is adapted generally to conform to the bevelled edge of the coacting jaw, and further to fit under said bevelled edge 30 when the jaws are closed. Thus, a paper wall 32 gripped between the closed jaws will be crimped by the protruding portion 31 pressing against the generally conforming beveled edge 30. The lower extending portion 33 of the protruding edge 31 bites into the container wall, forming a crimp 34 under which said portion 33 catches and greatly increases the hold of the jaws on the paper wall, particularly while the paper can is being lifted;the tendency there being for the lower extended portion 33 to catch under the crimp or shoulder 34 and lift it.

The above-mentioned bevelled edge 30 on the lower end of the stationary jaws 13 also facilitates the insertion of the jaws 13 through the paper lid 27 into the paper can 20.

In operation, the novel gripper of my present invention is set on the paper lid 27 of a paper ice-cream can 20 with the inner stationary jaws 13 resting generally adjacent the inner edge 35 of the metal rim 36 of the paper can lid, and the outer movable jaws remaining in their normal open position, extending outside of the outer diameter of said lid rim 36. Manual pressure is applied in a downward direction against the handle or spacer member 29, so that the stationary jaws 13 break or cut their way through the paper lid 27 and are projected into the can to a suitable depth. The operators fingers are then slipped through the space 25 and the operator thus lifts up on the movable handle member 19 carrying with it the handle member 21 and causing the jaws simultaneously first to grip the paper can wall, and then to lift the paper can as the hand continues to lift on said handle member 19. By this means, the gripper of my invention may be used also as a temporary or detachable handle for carrying paper cans.

In Figures 6, '7 and 8, is shown a modified construction of a paper can gripper embodying my invention. Here the jaws and jaw action are similar to that of the form previously shown, but the stationary jaws 40 are preferably formed integrally with the spacer or compression member 41;the jaws 40, hinge lugs 42, and spacer member 41 being preferably pressed out of one piece of sheet metal, and a downwardly depending stiffening flange portion 43 being provided on both longitudinal sides of the spacer member 41, to increase the compression strength and rigidity of said spacer member 41.

Two teeth 45 are provided in the lower end of the stationary jaw 40, said teeth joining in an upper arcuate portion 46, presenting a modified mode of entrance to the ice-cream can. A bevelled portion 47 is also provided for facile insertion of said jaw into the paper can through the lid, and also to aid in the crimping action of the jaws.

The movable jaw structure consists of the jaws 48, hinge lugs 49, lower bent portions 50 and handle members 51 and 52, respectively. The lower handle member 51 is suitably curved to form a finger-insertion space 53 between said lower handle member 51 and the spacer member 41. The handle members are hingedly supported at their jaw ends, by the pintles 54 of the hinges. In its resting position, the free end 55 of the handle 51 rests upon the spacer 41. The handle member 52 is in turn slidably or movably supported by the upper arcuate surface of the handle member 51, at its free end.

Figure 6 illustrates the position of my novel paper can gripper in its open or resting position, which is its position when it is resting on the paper can lid preparatory to its insertion into and its engagement with the can.

Figure '7 illustrates the simultaneous gripping action of the jaws resulting from a hand pulling up on the movable handle 51 which carries with it the upper handle member 52, substantially as is done when the can is being lifted or carried. As may be seen here, the greater the force necessary to lift the can, the greater the grip on said can.

The upper arcuate handle member 52 serves also as a palm rest or a secondary handle memher to enable the user to force the stationary jaws 40 into the paper can.

If desired, the spacer member .1 may be adjustable, so that the gripper may be used' for paper cans of varying diameter.

In operation, the modified gripper of my invention is applied to a paper canlid in the same position as that illustrated in Figure 6, with the innerjaws 4O resting on the paper lid generally adjacent the metal rim thereof. Manual pressure is applied on the upper handle member 52 to force the inner jaws 40 through the lid of the can to a suitable depth. The hand is then inserted into the handle space 53, it grasps the lower handle member 51 and pulls up, substantially as shown in Figure 7. This latter action causes the movable jaws to close, crimp the paper can wall, and lift up under the crimp to lift the can, substantially as has already been described with reference to the jaws and 11 of my hereinabove outlined modified construction.

The advantages of my novel paper can gripper are numerous, and reside chiefly in the means offered for quickly and easily gripping a paper can, so that said can may be lifted and carried about substantially as though the can were equipped with a handle.

Another advantage of my novel paper can gripper is the security with which the can is held, the grip increasing as the weight of the can is increased.

Still another advantage of my novel paper can gripper is the single manual action necessary simultaneously to grip the can with both pairs of jaws and to lift or carry the can on an even keel and with an equal division of force on two sides. Because of the inherent resiliency of the handle member 19 or 55, it may move after the jaw pair directly controlled by it is tightly engaged to thereby insure equal gripping action of the jaw pair controlled by the overlying handle member 21 or 52. Similarly, the inherent resiliency of the handle members 21 or 52 permits yielding thereof after the jaw pair directly controlled by it is tightly engaged to thereby permit further movement of the handle 19 or 55 to insure equal gripping action of the other jaw member.

A further advantage of my novel paper can gripper is its adaptability to gripping paper cans from above so that a paper ice cream can in a refrigerator well may be quickly and easily gripped from above and lifted out of said well.

I am aware that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and I therefore desire the present embodiments to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. A paper can gripper including two pairs of jaws separated by an integral spacer member, the inner jaw of each pair being insertable into a paper can, the outer jaw being adapted to coact with said inner jaw to grip the paper can wall therebetween, and a pair of handle members intermediate said two pairs of jaws and operatively connected to the two outer jaws, and having their inner ends in overlapping relation to each other, for simultaneously closing said two pairs of jaws by a single manual force, and with a generally equalized pressure.

2. A paper can gripper comprising an inner and an outer jaw, pivotally connected together, thev inner jaw being insertable into a container adjacent to the container wall to thereby support a portion of said wall, the outer jaw having its lower end offset inwardly and adapted to crimp the supported wall portion inwardly under the end of said inner jaw, and handle members rigidly connected to said jaws and extending inwardly into position overlying the end area of the container.

3. A paper can gripper including two stationary jaws separated by an integral spacer member, said stationary jaws being insertable into a paper can, movable jaws adapted to coact with said stationary jaws to grip a paper can wall between them, crimping means to enhance the grip of said jaws on said paper can wall, a movable handle member rigidly attached to one of said movable jaws, a movable handle member rigidly attached to the other of said jaws and adapted to with the first mentioned handle member to close said two pairs of jaws by a single manual force, and with a generally equalized pressure, the inner ends of said handle members being in overlapping relation to each other.

4. A paper can gripper including two stationary jaws separated by an integral spacer member, said stationary jaws being insertable into a paper can, movable jaws adapted to coact with said stationary jaws to grip a paper can wall between them, crimping means to enhance the grip of said jaws on said paper can wall, a movable handle member rigidly attached to one of said movable jaws, a movable handle member rigidly attached to the other of said jaws and adapted to move simultaneously with the first mentioned handle member to close said two pairs of jaws by a singlemanual force, and with a generally equalized pressure, the inner ends of said handle members being in overlapping relation to each other, and an auxiliary spacer rigidly connecting said inner jaws below said movable handle members.

5. A paper can gripper including two stationary jaws separated by, and formed integrally with a spacer member, said stationary jaws being adapted to be inserted into a paper can, a movable jaw hingedly related to each of said stationary jaws and adapted to coact therewith to grip a paper can wall between them,

' movable handle members disposed intermediate said movable jaws and formed integrally therewith, and adapted simultaneously to close said two pairs of jaws by a single manual force, and with a generally equalized pressure, the inner ends of said handle members being in overlapping'relation to each other.

6. In a lifter for paper board cans containing ice cream, the combination of a pair of inside jaws and a handle element connecting and maintaining said jaws in relatively fixed, spaced relation, said jaws depending substantially in. parallel relation from the outer ends of said handle element, having their ends sharpened so as to be adapted to pierce a paper board can cover, and having substantially smooth surfaces so as to resist adhesion thereto of ice cream into which the jaws may be inserted, and a pair of outside jaws respectively pivotally connected to said inner jaws, said outside jaws each having portions adapted to bite into the can Wall move simultaneously portions supported by the respective inner jaws, and said outer jaws each having handle elements extending inwardly therefrom in underlying operative relation to said inner jaw handle element.

7. In a lifter for paper board cans containing ice cream, the combination of an inside jaw and a handle element extending laterally from the upper end of the jaw, said jaw having its end sharpened so as to be adapted to pierce 10 a paper board can cover and being substantially 

